Competitors in the Crosshairs: 2009 Cadillac CTS-V

Cadillac lobs a 550-hp bomb into the sports-sedan arena.

Until recently, sports sedans were the exclusive domain of import brands. But American automakers are no longer letting the imports—the Germans in particular—keep the fun to themselves. Vehicles like the Hemi-endowed Chrysler 300C SRT8 and the Corvette-powered first-generation Cadillac CTS- V combined traditional sports-sedan attributes with that most American of traits: unmistakable and unapologetic muscle. With its 550-hp LSA V-8, the all-new 2009 Cadillac CTS- V adds some heat to a segment already ablaze with several of our favorite overdeveloped, overpowered, and over-the-top supersedans. Will the CTS- V’s massive power secure it a position among the world’s elite sports sedans—or even spell the demise of some players?

The CTS- V’s pending arrival has prompted us to take a fresh look at the current crop of sports sedans available in the U.S., anticipating how the CTS- V might compare with each. After all, the CTS- V may have set a new high-water mark for sports-sedan horsepower, but whether or not it can outsportthe world’s best sedans requires a closer look. Either way, we predict the CTS- V will be an unqualified success.